The Texas Real Estate Commission announced on Mar. 25 that several changes affecting brokers and broker applicants have taken effect as of January 1, 2026. These updates, stemming in part from Senate Bill 1968, focus on improving transparency, strengthening qualifications for brokers, and modernizing the management of real estate licenses in Texas.
The changes are significant for those seeking to become brokers or maintain their current licenses. The goal is to ensure that brokers are well-prepared to meet legal obligations and provide oversight within the industry.
One key update requires all brokers and broker applicants to complete the Broker Responsibility Course regardless of whether they supervise sales agents. This course covers topics such as legal and ethical obligations, supervisory duties, risk management practices, and compliance expectations.
Additional measures aim to increase transparency and accountability. Associated brokers must now identify their affiliated brokerages so this information can be displayed publicly on TREC’s website. Brokers will also receive notifications when complaints are filed against their associated brokers. All license holders must provide business addresses and phone numbers for public display in TREC’s online search tool.
Requirements for becoming a licensed broker have also changed following recommendations from the Broker Responsibility Advisory Committee. The minimum experience points needed have doubled from 360 to 720 points under TREC Rule 535.56. A bachelor’s degree can now only count toward up to 300 hours of education requirements (down from a previous maximum of 630 hours). Applicants may substitute additional qualifying experience for education with up to 300 experience points applied toward required education hours—placing more emphasis on practical transaction experience over academic credits alone.
Applicants manage licensing records through the REALM Portal but must still submit documentation manually using Supplement A (PDF), certified by a sponsoring broker, since experience is not tracked automatically by the system. Experience points awarded after review may count toward both minimum requirements and allowable substitutions for education hours based on BRAC’s formula.
Applications submitted before January 1, 2026 were reviewed under previous rules; those submitted after that date follow these updated standards. Only experience within the preceding five years qualifies either as minimum requirement or educational substitution.
